Harvey: How can it get worse for Astros? Moving to AL West

On the same day in December last year, the Los Angeles Angels signed perhaps the best hitter of this era, Albert Pujols, and a pitcher, C.J. Wilson, who was essential in taking the Texas Rangers to consecutive World Series.

They joined a roster that already included stars Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Torii Hunter. Early in the season, they called up minor league outfielder Mike Trout, who has been phenomenal, having an even better season than Pujols.

Just before the trading deadline last month, the Angels acquired Zack Greinke, the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner.

Entering Tuesday night, these heavenly Angels were in third place in their division, eight games behind the Rangers and two games behind the Oakland A’s.

That division is the American League West.

Welcome to your new home, Astros.

Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to rent for a while?

See how you like the neighborhood first before you commit to 50 years or so of playing with two teams like the Angels and Rangers that invest in their farm systems, make significant deals at the trading deadline, and aren’t afraid to overpay for free agents.

Add a third team like the A’s that occasionally conjures up a contending team out of Billy Beane’s imagination.

The Astros are so far from contending in the AL West starting next season that they haven’t begun to even think about it.

“We have so much to do just blocking and tackling that’s independent of the league we’re in,’’ Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “Our primary focus is on pitching, defense and run production.

“I will almost consider it a luxury where we’re focusing on getting a designated hitter.’’

I understand those are two words that make many of you wince, like income taxes, root canal and Lady Gaga.

There are others, undoubtedly in the minority here, who feel the same way about “double switch.’’

It doesn’t really matter how you feel about the DH. It’s coming to a ballpark near you.

Here’s a little taste of what you’re going to see if nothing dramatically changes between now and this time next season.

AL teams, through Monday, were hitting an average of 128 home runs. The Astros had 99. AL teams were averaging 518 runs. The Astros had 438. AL teams were averaging an OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .738. The Astros had an OPS of .679.

Kings of the HBP

There’s one place they can compete. American League teams on average had been hit by pitches 38 times. AL pitchers generally are considered more aggressive because they don’t have 95 mph fastballs thrown in their direction at the plate. The Astros had been hit by pitches 42 times, second in the National League.

The Astros are the little engine that can’t.

So when Luhnow finally does begin thinking about playing in the American League, is there any more cause for optimism than there would be if the Astros were staying in the National League, where they’re already at the bottom?

In interleague play this season, the Astros had a 6-9 record. If they won at that rate for an entire season, they’d finish with a mere 97 losses. That’s better than the 106 they lost last season and the 108 they’re on pace to lose this season. Baby steps.

What’s more, five of their nine losses against the American League came against the Rangers. The Astros actually won two of three against the Chicago White Sox, the only road series they’ve won this season. They also won a home series against Cleveland in June, which they didn’t do again until last weekend against Milwaukee.

You can look at it like the Astros now will have to play the Rangers 18 times instead of six. Or you can look at it like the Rangers might lose Josh Hamilton, perhaps baseball’s best player, and catcher Mike Napoli to free agency.

Onus is on them

The Astros, however, can’t count on teams getting worse. The Astros have to get better.

Luhnow said that will be easier, at least in terms of competing with the Angels and Rangers for free agents, if they sell more tickets, which means more money.

I congratulated Astros fans a few weeks ago for their refinement. They refuse to spend good money, even $5, on a bad local baseball team out of loyalty, just as they would refuse to return to a restaurant that gave them food poisoning.

I later exchanged emails with a friend of Astros owner Jim Crane. The friend, who didn’t want to be identified, wrote, “I suppose the perfect result, from your asserted perspective, would be if 100 percent of the seats were sold to each game but no one came. Then there would be revenues to fund improvements but a strong ‘message’ from fans.’’

Close but not quite. My perspective is that no one should buy tickets until the team is better.

But here’s what’s going to happen. Attendance will be better next season because of the move to the American League. People will come out to see the Yankees and Red Sox because they’re glamour teams. People will come out to see the Rangers because they don’t like anything associated with Dallas. The Astros have had two sellouts this season, one on opening day and one when the Rangers were at Minute Maid Park.

No excuses

And then? The Astros will be more entertaining in a league that gives you an extra bat. The commercial says, “Chicks dig the long ball.’’ It doesn’t say, “Chicks love the double switch.’’

With revenues befitting a mid-major market, the Astros also will have no excuses if they don’t improve significantly within two to three years. Until then, you can “Root, Root, Root’’ for them to get hit by pitches.